Entity-relationship Approach Research Articles

Knowledge-oriented modeling for influencing factors of battle damage in military industrial logistics: An integrated method

Modeling influencing factors of battle damage is one of essential works in implementing military industrial logistics simulation to explore battle damage laws knowledge. However, one of key challenges in designing the simulation system could be how to reasonably determine simulation model input and build a bridge to link battle damage model and battle damage laws knowledge. In this paper, we propose a novel knowledge-oriented modeling method for influencing factors of battle damage in military industrial logistics, integrating conceptual analysis, conceptual modeling, quantitative modeling and simulation implementation. We conceptualize influencing factors of battle damage by using the principle of hierarchical decomposition, thus classifying the related battle damage knowledge logically. Then, we construct the conceptual model of influencing factors of battle damage by using Entity-Relationship approach, thus describing their interactions reasonably. Subsequently, we extract the important influencing factors by using social network analysis, thus evaluating their importance quantitatively and further clarifying the elements of simulation. Finally, we develop an agent-based military industry logistics simulation system by taking the modeling results on influencing factors of battle damage as simulation model input, and obtain simulation model output, i.e., new battle damage laws knowledge, thus verifying feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. The results show that this method can be used to support human decision-making and action.

The functional requirements for community information

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider the nature of community information (CI) and proposes a data model, based on the entity-relationship approach adopted in the Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR), which may assist with the development of future metadata standards for CI systems. Design/methodology/approach – The two main data structure standards for CI, namely the element set developed by the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) and the MARC21 Format for CI, are compared by means of a mapping exercise, after which an entity-relationship data model is constructed, at a conceptual level, based on the definitions of CI found in the literature. Findings – The AIRS and MARC21 data structures converge to a fair degree, with MARC21 providing for additional detail in several areas. However, neither structure is systematically and unambiguously defined, suggesting the need for a data model. An entity-relationship data modelling approach, similar to that taken in FRBR, yielded a model that could be used as the basis for future standards development and research. It was found to effectively cover both the AIRS and MARC21 element sets. Originality/value – No explicit data model exists for CI, and there has been little discussion reported about what data elements are required to support CI seeking.

Concepts and evaluation of the extended entity-relationship approach to database design in a multi-paradigm information system modeling tool

Different approaches to information system (IS) development are based on different data models. The selection of a data model for conceptual design, among other things, depends on the problem domain, the knowledge, and the personal preferences of an IS designer. In some situations, a simultaneous usage of different approaches to the conceptual database design and IS development may lead to the most appropriate solutions. In our previous research we have developed a tool that provides an evolutive and incremental approach to IS development, which is based on the form type data model. The approaches based on the Extended Entity-Relationship (EER) and class data models are broadly accepted throughout the community of IS designers. In order to support the simultaneous usage of approaches based on the form type, EER and class data models, we have developed the Multi-Paradigm Information System Modeling Tool (MIST). In this paper, we present a part of our MIST tool that supports EER approach to a database design. MIST components currently provide a formal specification of an EER database schema specification and its transformation into the relational data model, or the class model. Also, MIST allows generation of Structured Query Language code for a database creation and procedural code for implementing database constraints. In addition, Java code that stores and processes data from the database, may be generated from the class model. In this paper, we present the evaluation study of the MIST EER domain-specific language. Users' perceptions of language quality characteristics are used for the evaluation.

A Good Quality Filing System and its Documentation: The Right Information Determined the Right Knowledge for Decision-Making

An excellent designed information files and its documentation is vitally an important element to assist the right information reaching the right top management for right decision making. Nevertheless, most functional managements do not realized a good quality files documentation design is actually theirs’ responsibility. They are the experts in designing their respective business functional procedures and modeling. It is inappropriate to rely on IT profession alone when comes to designing of business functional procedures. Mini case studies were adopted to let students have a hands-on trial with the new files’ normalization technique with only four rules as proposed to overcome the conventional entity-relationship diagram approach. Target samples were mainly non-IT students. The result shows this new technique offers few benefits that can speed up learning process, easy to understand, and ease of files’ normalization design for non-IT profession. Without an effective data filing system and its documentation applied by each respective functional manager, certainly a quality and right knowledge cannot be generated to assist company in the right, timely, and economic decision-making.

GIScience Research at the Thirtieth Annual ESRI International User Conference

GIScience Research at the Thirtieth Annual ESRI International User Conference

Guideline for the definition of EMF metamodels using an Entity-Relationship approach

Metamodels are a formalism for defining the abstract syntax of modeling languages. However, designing a suitable metamodel from the features intended for the language is not a trivial task. This paper presents a guideline for defining such metamodels using an Entity-Relationship approach in the Eclipse Modeling Framework. This guideline proposes to begin by determining the structural features of the language, such as types of relationships and elements with attributes. Subsequently, it offers alternative representations for these features aimed at satisfying different requirements, such as changeability or optimized model processing. Two case studies illustrate the use of the guideline and its trade-offs.

Design and implementation of a database for Brucella melitensis genome annotation

The genome sequences of three Brucella biovars and of some species close to Brucella sp. have become available, leading to new relationship analysis. Moreover, the automatic genome annotation of the pathogenic bacteria Brucella melitensis has been manually corrected by a consortium of experts, leading to 899 modifications of start sites predictions among the 3198 open reading frames (ORFs) examined. This new annotation, coupled with the results of automatic annotation tools of the complete genome sequences of the B. melitensis genome (including BLASTs to 9 genomes close to Brucella), provides numerous data sets related to predicted functions, biochemical properties and phylogenic comparisons. To made these results available, αPAGe, a functional auto-updatable database of the corrected sequence genome of B. melitensis, has been built, using the entity-relationship (ER) approach and a multi-purpose database structure. A friendly graphical user interface has been designed, and users can carry out different kinds of information by three levels of queries: (1) the basic search use the classical keywords or sequence identifiers; (2) the original advanced search engine allows to combine (by using logical operators) numerous criteria: (a) keywords (textual comparison) related to the pCDS's function, family domains and cellular localization; (b) physico-chemical characteristics (numerical comparison) such as isoelectric point or molecular weight and structural criteria such as the nucleic length or the number of transmembrane helix (TMH); (c) similarity scores with Escherichia coli and 10 species phylogenetically close to B. melitensis; (3) complex queries can be performed by using a SQL field, which allows all queries respecting the database's structure. The database is publicly available through a Web server at the following url: http://www.fundp.ac.be/urbm/bioinfo/aPAGe.

An intuitive methodology for website design

Software tools help us manage web content and website performance, yet we still see poorly designed websites with inappropriate content. A five step entity relationship approach to the systems development life cycle is proposed for developing new websites. This technique bridges the 'communications gap' between non-technical users and web developers.

A Methodology for Integrating Cognitive Engineering into Information System Analysis and Design

This paper introduces a methodology for integrating Cognitive Engineering into information System Analysis and Design (SAD). Work Domain Analysis (WDA) in CE is used to analyze and capture a large amount data and complex relationships in a work domain. In SAD, Data Flow Diagrams (DFD) and Entity-Relationship (ER) approaches are two important tools. Based on the captured data and relationships in the WDA model, DFD method is employed to further analyze data, data processing, and their relationships from the point of data flow. On the basis of creating WDA and DFD models, Entity-Relationship analysis methods uses normalization principles to optimize table structures, create the relationships among tables, and finally to create an Entity-Relationship Diagram. By applying the integrated methodology to the SAD of a database for health information, we created a system structure diagram, a work domain model, a DFD model, and an ER model. The methodology should emphasize human factors in Information System development, enhance the reliability of SAD and database integrity, and reduce system development time. The database is based on a three-tiered client/server system architecture and running on Oracle9i.

Improving the quality of data models: empirical validation of a quality management framework

This paper describes the results of a 5-year research programme into evaluating and improving the quality of data models. The theoretical base for this work was a data model quality management framework proposed by Moody and Shanks (In: P. Loucopolous (Ed.), Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on the Entity Relationship Approach, Manchester, England, December 14–17, 1994). A combination of field and laboratory research methods (action research, laboratory experiments and systems development) was used to empirically validate the framework. This paper describes how the framework was used to: (a) quality assure a data model in a large application development project ( product quality); (b) reengineer application development processes to build quality into the data analysis process ( process quality); (c) investigate differences between data models produced by experts and novices; (d) provide automated support for the evaluation process (the Data Model Quality Advisor). The results of the research have been used to refine and extend the framework, to the point that it is now a stable and mature approach.

Auditor efficiency and effectiveness with diagrammatic and linguistic conceptual model representations

The differences in efficiency, effectiveness, ease of use, and user satisfaction among auditors using diagrammatic and linguistic conceptual model representations were investigated. The diagrammatic conceptual model was the entity–relationship (ER) model [Batini C, Ceri S, Navathe SB. Conceptual database design: an entity relationship approach. Redwood City, CA: Benjamin/Cummings, 1992.]. The linguistic conceptual model was an informationally equivalent Backus–Naur Form (BNF) grammar (as described in Batini et al., 1992). The conceptual model representation was manipulated in an experiment containing three types of tasks: search, recognition, and inference. Participants in the study were 46 first year auditors employed by a Big 5 accounting firm, who were enrolled in an accounting information systems course in a graduate accounting degree program. Results indicate that participants considered the ER model easier to use, used it faster, and were more satisfied with it, than the BNF grammar. However, there were no significant differences between representations with respect to accuracy.

Similarity Between the Ranganathan's Postulates for Designing a Scheme for Library Classification and Peter Pin-Sen Chen's Entity Relationship Approach to Data Modelling and Analysis

This paper describes the theoretical framework of Ranganathan's postulates for designing a scheme for library classification and Peter Pin-Sen Chen's entity-relationship approach to data modelling and analysis techniques to see the similarity between their concepts and applications, in their respective domains. It also emphasises the importance of Ranganathan's postulates in organising and searching the World Wide Web resources. http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dbit.21.3.3541

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Biological sequences integrated: a relational database approach.

Over the last decade the modeling and the storage of biological data has been a topic of wide interest for scientists dealing with biological and biomedical research. Currently most data is still stored in text files which leads to data redundancies and file chaos. In this paper we show how to use relational modeling techniques and relational database technology for modeling and storing biological sequence data, i.e. for data maintained in collections like EMBL or SWISS-PROT to better serve the needs for these application domains. For this reason we propose a two step approach. First, we model the structure (and therefore the meaning of the) data using an Entity-Relationship approach. The ER model leads to a clean design of a relational database schema for storing and retrieving the DNA and protein data extracted from various sources. Our approach provides the clean basis for building complex biological applications that are more amenable to changes and software ports than their file-base counterparts.

Incorporating Database Design in Warnier Method

The Warnier method, a highly prescriptive program design approach for file-oriented solutions, has been criticized for its lack of a database design component. This paper addresses this weakness by incorporating a logical database design step in Warnier method. Specifically, the paper presents rules for transforming the information in a Warnier diagram into a set of relations. With this extension the Wamier method complements the entity-relationship approach for data analysis and logical database design.

A Rulebase Management System Using Conceptual Rule Modeling

Conceptual modeling is a fundamental concept in information management. Although originated in the theory and practice of databases, its significance as a guiding principle reaches all areas of information integration efforts dealing with heterogeneous uses. In the field of knowledge-based systems, an emerging need is for expert system shells to be able to manage triggers that change frequently and to support heterogeneous applications which use the same rulebase simultaneously but in different ways. A conceptual schema is clearly in order for this new capability. In addition, it is central to integrating databases with knowledge bases as well as providing interoperability to multiple (heterogeneous and distributed) knowledge-based systems. This paper presents a rulebase management system (RBMS) featuring a conceptual schema. The model of the conceptual schema is developed using the Two-Stage Entity-Relationship approach, which is compatible with most common methods and requires only standard data and rules processing technology to implement. The architecture and execution model of RBMS are discussed in details. Its specific implementation design is applicable to managing rules both in the usual rule-based systems and in the systems where rules are embedded into objects or entities. The processing methods are verified with a prototype, which is also discussed in this paper. The RBMS design is being implemented for Samsung Electronics Corporation.

Modélisation logique des données dans les systèmes multidimensionnels d'aide à la décision: la méthode MAP

ABSTRACT Among the tools available to the designers of Decision Support Systems (DSS) and Executive Information Systems (EIS), there are generators, ad—hoc systems, groupware and end—user products based on fourth—generation languages. Most of these tools are characterized by a logical structure based on the use of multidimensional tables. These DSS and EIS softwares permit to define the structure of the database and to manipulate it in a user—friendly fashion with an exceptionally short response time. They are based on a specific logical data model, consisting of dimension, variable and relationship concepts. Based on the OLAP technology (One Line Analytical Processing), these tools allow to express multidimensional views using the client—server architecture. Starting from a real situation, the designers of DSS and EIS often have difficulty in defining directly the dimensions, variables and relationships. To solve this problem, we suggest to proceed in two steps. The first step consists in modelling at the conceptual level, using the extended entity—relationship approach. The second step aims at moving to the logical level, by means of transformation rules. To this end, we present an algorithm which transforms a conceptual schema into a logical schema based on the objects of the multidimensional model. We illustrate the use of the transformation rules by means of an example and present the tool associated with the method.

Modeling deductive information systems using ERM ded

Today traditional information systems and deductive systems are modeled and implemented separately. Most users, however, demand integrated systems which meet their everyday information needs and have deductive capabilities as well. The well-known Entity-Relationship approach to conceptual data modeling is extended to cover modeling of such systems. First, a descriptive query language is introduced as a basis. Then it is shown how this language may be used to define derivable schema components. Finally, a classification of derivable data is given which allows the analyst to decide which derivable data should be included in the conceptual schema.

View update in entity-relationship approach

The traditional problem of updating relational databases through views is an important practical problem that has attracted much interest. In this paper, we examine the problem of view update in Entity-Relationship based database management systems [1] where the conceptual schema is represented by a normal form ER diagram [2] and views may be modelled by ER diagrams. We develop a theory within the framework of the ER approach that characterizes the conditions under which there exist mappings from view updates into updates on the conceptual schema. Concepts such as virtual updates and three types of insertability are introduced. We also present two algorithms, the View Updatability Algorithm and the View Update Translation Algorithm.

Designing hypermedia information retrieval systems for multimedia art catalogues

Abstract Multimedia art catalogues present a number of recurring characteristics in both the type of data and the users involved, and in the type of operations required. Typical data include textual catalogue cards manageable through an information retrieval system (IRS), as well as textual captions, images, video, and speech, organizable as a hypermedia network. In this paper we propose a model for the design of these applications, and discuss its effectiveness in improving the quality of the application. The model exploits a multi-level design approach to organize data and access structures of the IRS, while the Entity-Relationship (E-R) approach, tailored to model hypermedia applications, is adopted to describe the structure of the documents and their links.